The World According To Me

my dad called me this morning, for the first time in more than 4 years. he wanted to know if i was okay. he had just seen the news.

i assured him i was fine. i'm safe, dad. the fires are about an hour's drive away, in three directions.

i can't see to the end of my street. my house is filled with the acrid smell of smoke. my pets, usually off and about, coming home only for dinner, won't leave me. my inhaler has been a permanent fixture by my side for three days. but we are fine, and we will be fine. so many aren't. my mum, in one of those three directions, was evacuated from her house on saturday. she is fine. my sisters are fine. their house is fine. close call, but they are okay.

i know one elderly couple who have lost their home, in Marysville. they are okay. they have family around them, they have their lives.

so many don't. so much loss. it is truly devastating.